A Comparative Study of Motivation and Perceptual Learning Style Preferences for Learning Chinese as a Foreign Language among Grade 5 to Grade 8 Students of Concordian International School, Thailand

Yang Tian, Richard Lynch

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the level of overall motivation, intrinsic and extrinsic goal orientations, perceptual learning style preferences, and to determine the motivation and perceptual learning style preference differences among 169 grades 5-8 students learning Chinese as a foreign language at Concordian International School in Bangkok, Thailand, during the first semester of the academic year 2015-2016. The study employed a quantitative research methodology utilizing a questionnaire to collect data. There were four main findings. First, the level of overall motivation for learning Chinese as a foreign language among grade 5 to grade 8 students was high, with the level of intrinsic goal orientation being moderate; and the level of extrinsic goal orientation being high. Second, kinesthetic, tactile and group learning style preferences were major, while visual, auditory and individual were minor learning style preferences. Third, there was no significant difference of overall motivation in Chinese as a foreign language learning according to grade levels, with no significant difference of intrinsic goal orientation according to grade levels and no significant difference of extrinsic goal orientation in Chinese as a foreign language learning according to grade levels. Finally, there was a significant difference of perceptual learning style preferences in Chinese as a foreign language learning according to grade levels. The study concludes with recommendations for practice and for future research.